FC Midtjylland 2 Man Utd 1: Red Devils embarrassed by deadly Danes

After failing to navigate their way out of a relatively easy Champions League group, they slipped to one of the club’s most humiliating defeats in their European history here.

It puts into stark context how far United have slipped as a European force when you consider they were winning their historic treble when FC Midtjylland were formed in 1999.

Manchester United player ratings against Midtjylland

Thursday, 18th February 2016

STARSPORT bring you player ratings for each Manchester United ace after their 2-1 loss to Midtjylland.

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Manchester United

And the biggest win in the short history of the club from central Jutland leaves United with a job to do at Old Trafford next Thursday. They will certainly have to show a big improvement to get through.

A glut of injuries forced Van Gaal to play the one of the youngest teams United have ever fielded in Europe, but that was no excuse against a team who haven’t played a competitive game since December 10 because of the mid-winter break in Denmark.

As so often this season, Untied shot themselves in the foot. Memphis Depay’s first half goal put them in control but sloppy play allowed Pione Sisto to equalise with a superb solo goal on the stroke of half-time.

And United were punished for missing a string of second half chances when substitute Paul Onuachu scored a 77th minute winner to put Midtjylland in dream land.

A troubled build-up to the game for United continued when David de Gea pulled out after injuring himself in the warm up and was replaced by No. 2 Sergio Romero.

It was the Argentinean’s first outing since the Capital One Cup defeat to Middlesbrough in October but he spared his side from an even heavier defeat with three saves – from Kian Hansen and Vaclav Kadlec in the first half and Onuachu after the break.

Twitter reacts to Manchester United's loss to Midtjylland

Thursday, 18th February 2016

STARSPORT bring you the best reaction after Manchester United's 2-1 loss to Midtjylland.

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Twitter reacts to Manchester United's loss to Midtjylland

United carved out a couple of early chances through Memphis and Mata.

But the Dane, renowned for their goals from set-pieces, nearly scored from their first corner but KIAN Hansen’s powerful downward was well saved by Romero.

United came close to scoring from a set-piece themselves but Smalling wasted a free header from Daley Blind’s deep corner.

But they survived a major scare in the 36th minute when they were caught napping from their own corner and debutant Kadlec went clean through only for Romero to come to the rescue by saving the Czech’s shot with his legs.

Van Gaal’s team punished the Danes by going up straight up the other end to take the lead through Memphis.

The Dutch winger almost slipped over as he controlled Jesse Lingard’s cross but recovered to hook the ball in with his right foot.

United looked in command but let it slip when Michael Carrick’s pass put Ander Herrera in trouble and Sisto seized the chance to run at United’s defence.

He evaded Carrick and Herrera’s attempts to block his run to fire a shot past Romero.

United had three chances to regain the lead early in the second half. First Lingard lifted his shot over the bar after Anthony Martial’s surging run had opened up the Danes.

Then Juan Mata put a close range header wide from Depay’s cross before Lingard volleyed against the top of the bar form Herrera’s cross.

Romero clawed out a header from 6ft 7ins Onuachu after a cross by Olsson but he couldn’t do anything about the winner.

Onuachu caused chaos from the moment he came on and, after losing the ball then winning it back from Mata, he sent a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.

If United lose at League One Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Monday night Van Gaal will surely consider falling on his sword - if he hasn’t been sacked first.